HOW DANGEROUS IS MARIJUANA?

(SOME IDEAS AND GUIDELINES TO AN UNANSWERABLE QUESTION)

Many of us who lived through the 60's enjoyed some of the excitement of the so-
called “hippy culture,” with its insistence on personal freedom and growth of the
individual. Drugs were an important part of that culture, particularly
hallucinogens and most notably that ubiquitous weed known simply as pot. Most of
this generation knew that “official sources” of information about drugs were
heavily slanted toward political goals and governmental preferences. Those values
were to maintain the status quo, avoid social disruption and perhaps to some extent
to keep the liquor industry happy. One could also imagine that pot smoking was a
threat to such favorites as Valium, once eagerly promoted by the Drug industry.
Valium, if you don't know, is a rough physiological equivalent to booze and has
been correctly termed “powdered alcohol.” Finally, there was the use of LSD,
which scared everyone because of it's reputation of loss of control for the user. The
irony here was that many individuals who took LSD did it for exactly that reason,
to let go, at least temporarily, of the usual sense perceptions we all share. From my
experience in dealing with individuals who took such “trips,” the drug is overrated.
If you want to expand your consciousness or awareness of other realities, I
recommend travel to foreign countries. Mix with the common people and at least
make an attempt to learn their language. You will soon learn amazing things about
yourself.

Upon reflection, not much has changed in our society with regard to attitudes and
values toward drug use. The government is still infiltrated by armies of well-paid
lobbyists who promote all kinds of nonsense. Have you ever seen the movie “Reefer
Madness”? This movie illustrated the dire consequences of smoking weed:
obviously you were destined to a life of crime (heroin was next). Or, you might well
drift into a state of mental illness with about the same incidence that others catch a
cold. More recently we witness people testifying that smoking cigarettes (nicotine)
does not constitute drug use, that dairy products are unconditionally good for us
and that foreign wars are always necessary. In fact, such convoluted and illogical
thinking will not go away and the consumer must inform him/herself. If you sense a
“don't trust the government” attitude in my writing, you're correct. In fact, take it
a step further. We all embrace certain values, “objectivity” is an illusion. Discover
these things for yourself. So (in my opinion) what about marijuana? How
dangerous is it?

If you're comparing the use of an occasional beer with the once-in-a-while joint, I
doubt that you could invoke a reasonable argument based on dangerousness. But in
our society, it doesn't often work this way. Alcohol is consumed in enormous
quantities with the oft result of addiction, which I understand to mean notable
physiological symptoms such as tremors, unsteady gait, slurred speech...to
blackouts, confusion, liver disease and death. Alcoholism, incidentally, is most often termed a
disease because the AMA has decided to categorize it in that way. While there are disease components (consequences)
to heavy drinking, these features largely diminish and disappear as the individual stops drinking. No common
disease behaves in this manner. Another troubling aspect of borrowing from the traditional disease concept are the
issues of responsibility and choice. It is beyond the scope of this paper to pursue this idea but if you are interested in
reading more about the disease concept and implications for treatment, see Value Issues in Substance Abuse
Rehabilitation, 1975, USC doctoral dissertation., Lothar Graudins.

If you look at the medical consequences as well as the fatalities from excessive
alcohol use (liver disease, car and work accidents, etc.) you would clearly use
caution in drinking. All other drugs combined don't add up to such many negative
aspects. However, marijuana is not without consequences.

Those particular individuals who have substantial personal problems such as

isolation, extreme anger issues, depression and abnormal fears are certainly not
helped by smoking pot. Marijuana can lead to dependency and heavier use. The so-
called amotivational syndrome may not be a problem for an energetic and otherwise
productive individual, but for some people, this kind of drug induced lassitude is a
stumbling block to reasonable achievement. Apart from these kinds of negative
consequences, many states have very unreasonable if not ridiculous laws to regulate
pot. Some areas are fanatical and assign serious jail/prison time for offenses.

Finally, let's return to the ideas of freedom and growth. The instant “turn-on” is
very popular. It is enjoyable on occasion. Nothing wrong with that. But, try as one
might, the regular use of any drug has its diminishing returns. And if addiction or
dependence enters your life, freedom is curtailed. Growth comes from self-
actualization...taking action...entering relationships. Drug use and personal growth,
despite claims to the contrary, have little in common. And, in that sense, marijuana
can be perilous: if you use it to avoid important life issues. In the end however, each
person must examine their own circumstances and resources. These are personal
choices and context is everything. It is a fact that in some cultures some individuals
live happy and productive lives while smoking opium or “skin popping” heroin. At
the same time, others cannot manage a single beer without serious consequences.

Lothar Graudins, Ph. D

Copyright 4/10